Lacrosse

Womens Lacrosses Speziale Earns Second Patriot League Rookie of the Week Honor

Mar 29, 2010

Chiara Speziale of the American
University women’s lacrosse team has been named the Patriot
League Rookie of the Week, conference officials announced Monday.
The freshman from West Islip, N.Y., scored five goals and recorded
an assist in AU’s two games last week.

Speziale played a key role in American’s 17-16 victory
over previously-undefeated Lehigh on Saturday afternoon. She scored
a career-best three goals on only four shots, and also collected a
groundball. With AU trailing 11-9 in the second half, Speziale
converted a free position shot, her second goal of the game, which
got the Eagles back within one. After Emily Stankiewicz knotted the score at
11, Speziale again stepped up with an unassisted score to give
American a 12-11 advantage. Late in the game with AU holding a slim
one-goal advantage, Speziale recorded a crucial groundball when Amanda Makoid forced the turnover. The
Eagles were able to run off the final two minutes on the clock and
come away with the 17-16 victory.

Speziale also made an impact in Wednesday’s contest
against George Mason with two goals and an assist on five total
shots. She also registered a draw control versus the Patriots.

For the season, Speziale is third on the team in both goals (14)
and points (16). She has scored goals in eight of the 10 games in
which she has played, including five multiple-goal games.

This is the second Patriot League Rookie of the Week honor for
Speziale, who was also selected on March 2 of this year after
recording four total goals in games against George Washington and
Stony Brook.

The Eagles will look to move to 3-1 in Patriot League play this
Saturday, April 3 when they host Lafayette. Game time is set for 1
p.m.